Preserved copper colour (5)
I believe the answer is:
cured
'preserved' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'copper colour' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'Cu' (chemical symbol).
'colour' becomes 'red' (red is a kind of colour).
'cu'+'red'='CURED'
(Other definitions for cured that I've seen before include "Preserved by drying, salting or smoking" , "Healed - smoked" , "Made well" , "Successfully treated" , "Rehabilitated" .)